MINUTES OF THE WORKERS’ COMPENSATION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING OF:
November 18, 2005.
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I.CALL TO ORDER
Chair Martin Alvey called the meeting to order at 11:25 a.m., at Willamette Valley Vineyards in Turner, OR. The following officers were present: Chair Alvey, Secretary Linh Vu, and Treasurer Matthew Roy. The following members were present: Shelley Edling, Julie Masters, and Mark Thesing. The following members were not present: Dean Lederer , Charles Mundorff, Arthur Stevens, Rodger Hepburn, Holly Somers, Jill Riechers, and Meg Carman.
II.MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING
The minutes of the meeting of October 21, 2005, will be reviewed next meeting on 12/16/05.
III.CHAIR REPORT
A.Chair Alvey was approached regarding use of the Section list-serve. The committee agreed that periodic reminders will be sent to the list-serve regarding appropriate use.
B.Board Chair Abigail Herman made a special appearance to update the committee on changes at the Workers’ Compensation Board.
Board Chair Herman discussed the mandate to re-set postponed hearings within 120 days and the transfer of Workers’ Compensation Division matters from the Office of Administrative Hearings to the WCB. In order to meet these mandates, the mediation program had to be scaled back. Although no request for mediation has been refused, mediations cannot be set immediately and only a limited number of judges have been designated for the mediation program.
To further manage the backlog of postponed and potential new cases, a limited duration ALJ Kate Donnelly will be appointed for the Eugene office. Ms. Donnelly will also be handling hearings in Klamath Falls and Medford. The Board has also hired a new staff attorney as well as a secretary for the Eugene office.
These efforts have significantly reduced the number of hearings that were postponed and need to be reset. Of the approximately 200 cases that have not been re-set for hearing, about 50 percent of those cases involve a responsibility issue.
The Board is also creating a pilot program for on-line filing of Requests for Hearing and Board Review and is currently evaluating formal rulemaking to instituting the program.
IV.TREASURER’S REPORT
Treasurer Matthew Roy prepared the proposed budget for 2006. The proposed budget will be sent to the rest of the committee members via e-mail for a vote. The budget must be approved by 12/1/05.
V.COMMITTEE REPORTS
A.Salishan
Subcommittee chair Sally Curey, made a special appearance. Ms. Curey reported the subcommittee recommended Board employees be offered a reduced registration rate of $100.00. The subcommittee is also seeking approval for 8 CLE credits. Ms. Curey also indicated a willingness to work with the Race/Ethnic subcommittee to develop a session to cover the elimination of bias credit requirement for Salishan 2007.
B.Communications see Chair Report
C.Daughtry Award no report
D.Legislative no report
E.Bench Bar no report
F.Rules
Subcommittee chair Julie Masters reported that the subcommittee recommended that the committee take no position on the proposed rules regarding imposition of a penalty for a claimant’s failure to attend and IME. The subcommittee recommended endorsing the proposed BOLI rule changes regarding return-to-work issues.
V.OLD BUSINESS – none
VI.NEW BUSINESS – none
The meeting adjourned at 11:55 a.m.